Monday, December 21, 2015

Reason For The Season

"Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ,
keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand
of God."

If you claim Christ as Savior and are born again . . . then get your eyes and mind off the carnal. The hardest things is balance, however, it ought be noted. It is easy to go extreme either way--either to be so "spiritual" that you ignore present reality and the needs and responsibilities of this life in the flesh (which becomes just another form of escapism) . . . OR, to be so focused on material concerns and "security" that you neglect the things of God. We are to be in the world but not OF it. We are OF God, for God. But always, while we render what is due to our present material needs and obligations, we must "KEEP SEEKING THE THINGS ABOVE."The "worlders" hate this attitude, this approach to life. They get angry and will insult you if you say you have your hope in the hereafter, in the "above." The enemy is constantly seeking to distract you from the "above" to instead be only looking at now, at the "below"; to destroy hope for the better life, the better future in the eternal city of God. . . . But do not be fooled. "The grass withers and the flowers fade but the word of our God endures forever." --Isaiah 40:8

"Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth."

"SET YOUR MIND!" This means make it a point to continually lock your mind on to the ultimate goal of this life--which is not about this world or the things of this world, but is about God and Heaven. It is a blasphemy to those of the world to say it, but the believer's cry is not "live for the day" . . . but is instead, "live for tomorrow." Which . . . involves a paradox of sorts, for those who "live for the day" and for their life in this world "now" actually are unable to enjoy or make good use of their life in this world "now". They are ever fretting and worrying about "tomorrow" as they must always be trying to stay alive in this world and amass as much "security", "wealth" and "power" as possible . . . for this is it--this is all they got. They have no "tomorrow" of hope. Their "heaven" is now, in this world. . . . Whereas, the one who has Godly hope for life abundant in the hereafter is free from over-concern, worry and fretting about life in this world, as their life has been "raised up with Christ, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God." "For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God."

"Therefore consider the members of your earthly body
as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which
amounts to idolatry."

Be dead to this world, as regards evil, inordinate passions and greedy, voracious desires; be alive to the "above", to Heavenly, Godly, Holy things. . . .

"Because of these, the wrath of God is coming."

Yes, God has wrath! Yes, God will punish those who are alive to "immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which
amounts to idolatry." Yes, God's wrath will come upon the "children of disobedience"!"So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and
beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness
and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other,
whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you,
so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity."

Those CHOSEN OF GOD are holy and beloved . . . and are to carry themselves with a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. . . . Forgiving one another as the Lord forgave them.

The peace of Christ must . . . and DOES rule in the hearts of God's elect. Those who do not love, who are not humble, patient, kind . . . are liars if they say they are of God. . . .

"Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father."

We must cease doing things that we cannot say are done in the name of Lord Jesus. If you are up to something that you cannot bless in God's name, then get away from continuing it, it must be rejected.

"Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men."

We, who claim the Lordship of Jesus, of primary purpose, do not work for the self, do not work for others, do not work for the world, but work heartily, in good cheer for God above all! Praise God!